Myer family feud escalates over $3M Sorrento beach house plans
A legal battle over a multimillion-dollar beach house in Sorrento, Victoria, has reached the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Celia Burrell, a member of the Myer family, wants to build a $3 million, three-storey home next to her brother Richard Shelmerdine’s property. Shelmerdine is now appealing the council’s approval of the plans, arguing they invade his family’s privacy.
The dispute centres on a plot of land overlooking Sullivan Bay, where Burrell aims to construct her beach home. Shelmerdine claims the design would allow people inside the new home to see directly into his private areas, including his children’s bedrooms and dining room. Property developer Martin Strode, who owns a nearby home, has also joined Shelmerdine in opposing the project.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council approved Burrell’s plans, stating the design fits with the surrounding area and would not cause unreasonable disruption. In response, Burrell argued at VCAT that her home would respect the neighbourhood’s character and not harm nearby properties. She also cited Shelmerdine’s own 2010 VCAT victory on the same site—where he successfully blocked a subdivision into five plots—as a precedent supporting her case. A three-day hearing took place in December 2022. The tribunal’s decision is now awaited, with a ruling expected in 2023.
The outcome will determine whether Burrell’s beach home can proceed as planned. If the tribunal upholds the council’s approval, construction could begin. If Shelmerdine’s appeal succeeds, Burrell may need to revise her design or abandon the project entirely.
